前不着村，后不着店 qián bù zháo cūn ， hòu bù zháo diàn

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. no village ahead and no inn behind (idiom)
  2. fig. to be stranded in the middle of nowhere
  3. to be in a predicament

CHARACTERS

前 qián
HSK 1
in front, forward; preceding
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
着 zháo
HSK 2
make move, take action
村 cūn
HSK 5
village, hamlet; uncouth, vulgar
后 hòu
HSK 1
queen, empress, sovereign; (simp. for 後) behind, rear, after
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
着 zháo
HSK 2
make move, take action
店 diàn
HSK 1
shop, store; inn, hotel